The Lord's (Passover) Supper
Comparing Old Testament Observance
with New Testament Fulfillment
The order of the Passover meal presented here is taken from the traditional Jewish Passover Seder which means "order." The Passover meal itself was established in Exodus 12. This biblical text does not stipulate the details that have developed over the years, but the traditional components of the meal are compelling, nonetheless. The items of the Lord's Supper in this table are provided to show how completely Jesus Christ answers both scriptural prophecy and the traditions which grew up around that prophecy.
| The
Passover Meal primarily revealed in Exodus 12 |
The
Lord's Supper primarily revealed in Matthew 26 and Luke 22 |
||
| The Lamb |
|
The Lamb | |
| Select a Lamb | "On the tenth
of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according
to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household. Exodus 12.3 |
Providing the Lamb | The Word became
flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only
begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 |
| Observe the Lamb | And you shall
keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month Exodus 12.6a |
Beholding the Lamb | The next day he
saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world! John 1:29 |
| Sacrifice your Lamb | Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. Exodus 12.6b | Sacrifice the Lamb | He made Him who
knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness
of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21 |
| Apply Lamb's Blood | Moreover,
they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and
on the lintel of the houses Exodus 12.7 |
Apply Lamb's Blood | Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Romans 5:9 |
| The Meal | The Meal | ||
| Leavened Bread Removed / Hidden | On
the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses / Seven days there
shall be no leaven found in your houses Exodus 12.15/19 |
Removing the Leaven |
Clean out the old leaven,
that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For
Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. |
| 1st Cup of Wine - Sanctification | Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out Exodus 6.6 | 1st Cup of Wine - Sanctification | When
He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it
among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the
vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes." Luke 22:17-18 |
| Handwashing | Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart Psalm 24:3-4 | Footwashing |
[Jesus] rose
from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded
Himself about. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash
the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was
girded. |
| Dipping bitter herbs | The
sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and
their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. Exodus 2:23 |
Dipping Food | "He
who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me."
Matthew 26:23 |
| 2nd Cup of Wine - Plagues | "For this time
I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so
that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. Exodus 9:14 |
(any suffering) | Jesus answered,
"It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order
that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3 |
| Questioning by children | And
it will come about when your children will say to you, 'What does this
rite mean to you?' that you shall say, "It is a Passover sacrifice
to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt
when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes." Exodus 12.26 |
Instruction of children | Fathers,
do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline
and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 |
| Food eaten | Then the sons
of Israel went and did so; just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron,
so they did. Exod 12:28 |
Food eaten | "I am the living
bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall
live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the
world is My flesh." John 6:51 |
| Afikomen (see notes) |
By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation,
who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living Isaiah 53:8 |
Body Broken and Buried | When
He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to
them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance
of Me." Luke 22.19 |
| 3rd Cup of Wine - Redemption |
I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Exodus 6:6 |
3rd Cup of Wine - Redemption |
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This
cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Luke 22:20 |
| 4th Cup of Wine - Praise | But, indeed,
for this cause I have allowed you [Pharaoh] to remain, in order to show
you My power, and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.
Exodus 9:16 |
Song of Praise | After singing
a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26:30 |
| The Door |
They shall take some of the
blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses
in which they eat it. Pharaoh called for Moses...
and said, "Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and
the sons of Israel; and go, worship the LORD, as you have said."
|
The Door | "I am the door;
if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out,
and find pasture." John 10:9 |
Afikomen Notes: The word "afikomen" means "that which is coming" or "he who is coming." The Afikomen is a piece of unleavened bread (matzah) which is broken and removed from the other matzah wafers which are placed on the table. In many Passover observances, there is a sack with three compartments and a piece of bread in each section. This sack is called "The Unity" - a unity of three parts! The Afikomen is the wafer in the middle compartment. This broken piece of bread is wrapped in white cloths and is hidden. At the appropriate time in the meal, the children are dismissed to seek and find the missing member of "The Unity." The heavy symbolism of this unique aspect of the Passover should not be overlooked by Christians.